DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed on 8/03/2026 has been entered. The applicant has amended claims 3 and 7-8. Claims 1-20 are pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicants’ arguments filed on 8/03/2026 with respect to the rejection of independent claims 1 have been fully considered and are not persuasive. The Applicants argue: “Of the three references cited, only Mao relates to optical instruments or mounts for such instruments. The other references relate to other types of machinery.”, [page 9 of the remarks] The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The Examiner’s response is, a reference is analogous art to the claimed invention if: (1) the reference is from the same field of endeavor as the claimed invention (even if it addresses a different problem); or (2) the reference is reasonably pertinent to the problem faced by the inventor (even if it is not in the same field of endeavor as the claimed invention). See Bigio, 381 F.3d at 1325, 72 USPQ2d at 1212. In this case the invention and the secondary references are related to motor drives, gears and controlling and positioning systems.
With respect to the argument that “claim 1 addresses a particular issue that is unique to telescopes and related optical instruments, … i.e., resolving a tradeoff” [page 9], the Examiner’s response is independent claim 1 as recited or it’s dependent claims 2-10 do not explicitly claim the limitations are a particular issue that is “unique to telescopes”. The Applicant further argues “claim 1 addresses … resolving a tradeoff between using worm gears versus using harmonic gears …”, “Worm gears are relatively inexpensive, but they require counterweights”, “As explained at paragraph [0005] of the Specification, the claim 1 improvement resolves this tradeoff”, “Thus, the hybrid mount of claim 1 breaks the usual tradeoff”, “Applicant asserts that this combination is entirely new and non-obvious”, [page 9-10], without pointing out to any limitation that does not meet. The Examiners response is the combination of applied prior art teaches all the limitations as claimed.
The Applicant further argues “Mao teaches worm gears on both axes. Yeunq and Matsuo teach harmonic gears in wholly different contexts. … Although the cited art describes certain individual features of claim 1, such as worm gears, harmonic gears, optical encoders, and corrections of errors, none of the cited art provides any motivation or hint to combine … Accordingly, claim 1 would not have been obvious based on Mao, Yeunq, and Matsuo, and the rejection of claim 1 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 should be withdrawn”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claim was rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 a Prima Facie Case of Obviousness. The Examiner recognizes that obviousness can only be established by combining or modifying the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching, suggestions, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselves or in the knowledge generally available to one ordinary skill in the art. See In re Fine, 837 F. 2nd 1071,5 USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988) and In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992). In this case, the motivations to combine are found in references and as well as from knowledge generally available to one ordinary skill in the art. The Examiner has met all requirements establishing a prima facie case: all factual findings required by Graham were supplied in the previous and present Actions; the references are related art. Applicant has supplied no evidence that there is no reasonable expectation of success; all claim limitations were met in the previous and present Actions, and Applicant has merely made the allegation that the limitations are not met, and thus has not provided any evidence or argument directed to how the identified elements in the previous action fail to meet the claimed limitations or to how the identified elements are otherwise distinguishable from the claimed limitations. Therefore, claim 1 is properly rejected, and the dependent claims 2-10 are not allowable for depending on a rejected base claim.
The Applicant further argues “As explained above in connection with claim 1, the cited art fails to teach or suggest the combination of "a declination unit having a worm gear disposed to rotate the declination axle,", "a right-ascension unit having a harmonic gear disposed to rotate the declination unit about a right ascension axis," and "an optical encoder configured to produce measurements of right ascension, said measurements providing a basis for correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear." Accordingly, the cited art fails to teach or suggest claim 11 for similar reasons to those set forth above in connection with claim 1”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The Examiner mapped the limitations with the respective teaching in the cited prior art, identified differences between the prior art and the claim, provided rationale for combination/modification as needed and provided motivation why a person of ordinary skill in the art would have combined or modified those references to arrive at the claimed invention. Therefore, claim 1 is properly rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as explained above, and for the same reason the claim 11 is unpatentable over the cited prior art.
With respect to independent claims 14-20 [independent claim 14 and dependent claims 15-20], the Applicant argues “claim 14 was rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103 as being unpatentable over Mao in view of Yeung and Matsuo. Applicant respectfully traverses the rejection and requests reconsideration. As stated above in connection with claims 1 and 11, the cited art fails to teach or suggest the combination of “driving … [limitations] ... encoder”. Accordingly, the rejection of claim 14 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 should be withdrawn and claim 14 is allowable. Claims 15-20 depend from and further limit claim 14 and are therefore also allowable”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. Claim 1 is properly rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as shown above, and for the same reason the claim 14 is unpatentable over the cited prior art, and the dependent claims 15-20 are not allowable for being dependent on rejected base claim 14.
The Applicant amended dependent claims 3, 7 and 8. Claims 3, 7 and 8 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1, 2, 4-6, 11, 13-14 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mao (US 2013/0258459, of record) in view of Yeung et al. (US 2009/ 0163929, of record) further in view of Matsuo et al (JP5659749, of record; Examiner provided machine translation in previous office action).
Regarding claim 1, Mao teaches a hybrid mount for optical instruments (refer to US 20130258459, Technic for Telescope balance), comprising: a declination axle constructed and arranged to attach to an optical instrument (mount 100 includes a declination (DEC) axis 110, [0010], Fig. 1); a declination unit having worm gear (a motor 126, Fig. 1; FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a motor controlling system including a motor, [0028]; shaft of the motor is coupled to a worm shaft, which in turn is coupled to a worm gear, [0030]) disposed to rotate the declination axle (shaft of the motor is coupled to a worm shaft, which in turn is coupled to a worm gear for driving a respective axis of the telescope mount, [0030]); and
a right-ascension unit (a right ascension (R.A.) axis 112, [0010]) having a motor (motor 128, Fig. 1) disposed to rotate the declination unit about a right ascension axis, the right-ascension unit (mount 100 also includes motor assemblies 126 and 128 for effecting controlled rotation of the mount in declination and right ascension, [0010]) having an optical encoder configured to produce measurements of right ascension, said measurements providing a basis for correcting the error produced by the gear (the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]).
Mao teaches motor assemblies 126 and 128 for effecting controlled rotation of the mount in declination and right ascension, communicating with a hand controller or a computer for receiving commands to control the motors 126 and 128 (0010), And also an improved technique balances a telescope from the viewpoint of the motors that drive the telescope's axes, measure the degree of imbalance of the telescope, which may be communicated to an operator to allow adjustments to the telescope to improve its balance, [0027], and the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]. Fig. 3A the motor driver 212 accelerates the motor 210, from zero to 3000 steps/second over an interval of 150 steps, where each "step" refers to an optical encoder step, [0034]. Examiner equates for precise motor positioning and control to correcting the error produced.
Mao doesn’t explicitly teach a harmonic gear disposed to rotate the unit, and correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear.
Mao and Yeung are related as devices with motor and rotational motion, and motor and gears that controls movement.
Yeung teaches rotate the shaft section, and optical encoder 46 is mounted on shaft section 38 of output shaft 26 for measuring rotational displacement, [0163]; a harmonic gear disposed to rotate the unit, and encoder measurements providing a basis for correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear (optical encoder 46 is mounted on shaft section 38 of output shaft 26 for measuring rotational displacement, [0163] Motor 212 may include a servo motor integrated with a harmonic gear and an angular encoder for measuring rotational displacement of the motor shaft 220 coupled to said gear, [0197], motor 302 to rotate about the wrist-roll axis 438 via the gear-reduction by the harmonic-drive 482., [0203]. Yeung teaches the relative alignment error between the input and output axis can be compensated, [0186]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the mount of Mao by changing the gear to harmonic gear as taught by Yeung for the predictable advantage of gear ratio may be a miniature harmonic gear, make a compact module as taught by Yeung in [0188], it is also known to art that Harmonic gears offer exceptional advantages for high-precision, space-constrained applications, high torque density, and significant weight savings in a compact design.
The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear. Mao and Matsuo are related as
Regarding claim 2, the modified Mao teaches the mount according to claim 1 (see above), Yeung further teaches, wherein the harmonic gear is constructed and arranged to resist turning moments, such that the hybrid mount does not include a declination-axis counterweight (Harmonic drives, on the other hand, features zero-backlash, [0020]).
Regarding claim 4, the modified Mao teaches the mount according to claim 1 (see above), Mao teaches motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]. Yeung teaches harmonic gear and an angular encoder for measuring rotational displacement, [0197]. Matsuo teaches angle transmission error in the harmonic gear reducer 5 is detected, [page 3 of machine translation]. The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach, wherein the optical encoder has an angular error of less than 0.1 arc-seconds. Since it has been held that where the general conditions of a claim are disclosed in the prior art and no criticality has been established on the record, discovering the optimum or workable ranges involves only routine skill in the art, In re Aller, 105 USPQ 233 (C.C.P.A. 1955). Benefits of optimizing location include improving the angular movement quality. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time the filing was made to select the optical encoder has an angular error of less than 0.02 arc-seconds in order to obtain a desired lower angular error.
Regarding claim 5, the modified Mao teaches the mount according to claim 4 (see above), further comprising control circuity having an input that represents a desired right-ascension angle, the control circuitry constructed and arranged to rotate the declination unit in right ascension under closed-loop feedback control, such that the measurements of right ascension substantially match the desired right-ascension angle (a control circuit coupled to the motor. The control circuit includes a motor driver arranged to direct the motor to drive the optical assembly in a first rotational direction about the axis of the telescope and to drive the optical assembly in a second direction. The control circuit still further includes a calculating circuit arranged to calculate a difference between the first current and the second current., [0016]; Motor current is measured while the motor is driving the telescope in each direction, and a difference in motor current is computed. The difference in motor current indicates the degree of imbalance of the telescope, which may be communicated to an operator to allow adjustments to the telescope to improve its balance. [0027]).
Regarding claim 6, the modified Mao teaches the mount according to claim 1 (see above), wherein the right-ascension unit includes a stepper motor coupled to the harmonic gear for rotating the declination unit in right ascension. (The motor 210 may be a DC motor or a stepper motor, motor configured in a servo arrangement, where the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]; Yeung teaches the motor is a combination of harmonic-drive, an optical incremental encoder for measuring input motor position and a DC brushless motor (0195), Motor may include a servo motor integrated with a harmonic gear, [0197]).
Regarding claim 11, Mao teaches a telescope (refer to US 20130258459), comprising: an optical tube assembly (an optical tube assembly of the telescope, claim 12, see Fig. 1, tube 150); a declination axle attached to the optical tube assembly (declination (DEC) axis 110, [0010]); a declination unit having a worm gear (a motor 126, Fig. 1; FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a motor controlling system including a motor, [0028]; shaft of the motor is coupled to a worm shaft, which in turn is coupled to a worm gear, [0030]) disposed to rotate the declination axle (shaft of the motor is coupled to a worm shaft, which in turn is coupled to a worm gear for driving a respective axis of the telescope mount. [0030]); and a right-ascension unit (a right ascension (R.A.) axis 112, [0010]) having
Mao teaches motor assemblies 126 and 128 for effecting controlled rotation of the mount in declination and right ascension, communicating with a hand controller or a computer for receiving commands to control the motors 126 and 128 (0010), And also an improved technique balances a telescope from the viewpoint of the motors that drive the telescope's axes, measure the degree of imbalance of the telescope, which may be communicated to an operator to allow adjustments to the telescope to improve its balance, [0027], and the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]. Examiner equates for precise motor positioning and control to correcting the error produced. Mao doesn’t explicitly teach a harmonic gear disposed to rotate and correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear.
Mao doesn’t explicitly teach a harmonic gear disposed to rotate the unit, and correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear.
Mao and Yeung are related as devices with motor and rotational motion, and motor and gears that controls movement. Yeung teaches rotate the shaft section, and optical encoder 46 is mounted on shaft section 38 of output shaft 26 for measuring rotational displacement, [0163]; a harmonic gear disposed to rotate the unit, and encoder measurements providing a basis for correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear (optical encoder 46 is mounted on shaft section 38 of output shaft 26 for measuring rotational displacement, [0163] Motor 212 may include a servo motor integrated with a harmonic gear and an angular encoder for measuring rotational displacement of the motor shaft 220 coupled to said gear, [0197], motor 302 to rotate about the wrist-roll axis 438 via the gear-reduction by the harmonic-drive 482., [0203]. Yeung teaches the relative alignment error between the input and output axis can be compensated, [0186]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the mount of Mao by changing the gear to harmonic gear as taught by Yeung for the predictable advantage of gear ratio may be a miniature harmonic gear, make a compact module as taught by Yeung in [0188], it is also known to art that Harmonic gears offer exceptional advantages for high-precision, space-constrained applications, high torque density, and significant weight savings in a compact design.
The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear. Mao and Matsuo are related as motor and gears that controls movement. Matsuo teaches the gear is a harmonic gear, encoder configured to produce measurements and correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear (correcting the angle transmission error in the harmonic drive gear, [TECHNICAL-FIELD], For angle transmission error of the harmonic gear reducer is typically measures the rotation angle of the output side with a precision rotary encoder , and can be fed back to the input side in the control unit, [page 2, para 4, of machine translation]; rotated through a harmonic gear reducer 5 by the drive motor 6 , in the control apparatus 10 , and the input side of the harmonic drive gear reducer 5 which is input from the input-side angle detecting rotary encoder 8 an angle detection signal , on the basis of the output side of the angle detection signal of the harmonic drive gear reducer 5 which is input from the output side angle detecting rotary encoder 9, the angle transmission error in the harmonic gear reducer 5 is detected, [page 3 of machine translation]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao by changing the gear to harmonic gear and correcting a harmonic error produced by the harmonic gear, as taught by Matsuo for the predictable advantage of having an angle transmission error correction method and apparatus of the gear reducer (abstract).
Regarding claim 13, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 11 (see above), Yeung further teaches, the telescope further comprising control circuity having an input that represents a desired right-ascension angle, the control circuitry constructed and arranged to rotate the declination unit in right ascension under closed-loop feedback control, such that the measurements of right ascension substantially match the desired right-ascension angle (a control circuit coupled to the motor. The control circuit includes a motor driver arranged to direct the motor to drive the optical assembly in a first rotational direction about the axis of the telescope and to drive the optical assembly in a second direction, .. The control circuit still further includes a calculating circuit arranged to calculate a difference between the first current and the second current., [0016]; Motor current is measured while the motor is driving the telescope in each direction, and a difference in motor current is computed. The difference in motor current indicates the degree of imbalance of the telescope, which may be communicated to an operator to allow adjustments to the telescope to improve its balance. [0027]).
Regarding claim 14, Mao teaches a method of pointing a telescope mount (refer to US 20130258459), comprising: driving a worm of a worm gear to rotate the telescope mount in declination (a motor 126, Fig. 1; FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a motor controlling system including a motor, [0028]; shaft of the motor is coupled to a worm shaft, which in turn is coupled to a worm gear, shaft of the motor is coupled to a worm shaft, which in turn is coupled to a worm gear for driving a respective axis of the telescope mount. [0030]); driving a gear to rotate the telescope mount in right ascension (mount 100 also includes motor assemblies 126 and 128 for effecting controlled rotation of the mount in declination and right ascension, [0010]); and correcting errors in right ascension using an optical encoder (motor 210 may be a DC motor or a stepper motor, for example. In an example, the motor 210 is a DC motor configured in a servo arrangement, where the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control. the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]; motor 210 moves 6667 steps during the forward current sampling period, [0034]).
Mao teaches motor assemblies 126 and 128 for effecting controlled rotation of the mount in declination and right ascension, communicating with a hand controller or a computer for receiving commands to control the motors 126 and 128 (0010), And also an improved technique balances a telescope from the viewpoint of the motors that drive the telescope's axes, measure the degree of imbalance of the telescope, which may be communicated to an operator to allow adjustments to the telescope to improve its balance, [0027], and the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]. Examiner equates for precise motor positioning and control to correcting the error produced. Mao doesn’t explicitly teach driving a harmonic gear and correcting periodic errors.
Mao and Yeung are related as devices with motor and rotational motion, and motor and gears that controls movement. Yeung teaches driving a harmonic gear (Motor 212 may include a servo motor integrated with a harmonic gear and measuring rotational displacement of the motor shaft 220 coupled to said gear, [0197], motor 302 to rotate about the wrist-roll axis 438 via the gear-reduction by the harmonic-drive 482, [0203]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the mount of Mao by using a gear to harmonic gear as taught by Yeung for the predictable advantage of gear ratio may be a miniature harmonic gear, make a compact module as taught by Yeung in [0188], it is also known to art that Harmonic gears offer exceptional advantages for high-precision, space-constrained applications, high torque density, and significant weight savings in a compact design.
The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach correcting a periodic error.
Mao and Matsuo are related as motor and gears that controls movement. Yeung teaches the relative alignment error between the input and output axis can be compensated, [0186]. Matsuo teaches correcting a periodic error (harmonic gear reducer is, as its characteristics, it is actual situation that the periodic angular transmission error of 1 cycle every time the shaft of the servo motor is connected to the input side to two revolutions is occurring, [page 2 of machine translation]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao by changing the gear to harmonic gear and correcting a periodic error produced by the harmonic gear, as taught by Matsuo for the predictable advantage of having an angle transmission error correction method and apparatus of the gear reducer (abstract).
Regarding claim 16, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 14 (see above), controlling a stepper motor to rotate, (FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a motor controlling system including a motor 210, The control circuit 200 includes a motor driver 212, a current sampling circuit 214, and a calculating circuit 215. In an example, the calculating circuit 215 is implemented as a microcontroller or microprocessor, which, in addition to calculating, may perform other functions, [0028]; motor 210 may be a DC motor or a stepper motor, [0030]). Yeung teaches wherein driving the harmonic gear includes controlling a stepper motor to rotate a spline of the harmonic gear (the harmonic-drive 56, rotates counter-clockwise, [0181], a harmonic gear and an angular encoder for measuring rotational displacement of the motor shaft 220 coupled to said pinion gear, [0197]).
Claims 17 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mao in view of Yeung et al. further in view of Matsuo et al as applied to claims 1 and 11, and further in view of Kischka et al. (US 2015/0091480).
Regarding claim 17, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 16 (see above), a stepper motor for rotating the declination unit in right ascension, (The motor 210 may be a DC motor or a stepper motor, motor configured in a servo arrangement, where the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]). The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach applying a brake to the telescope mount by short-circuiting one or more input coils of the stepper motor.
Mao and Kischka are related as motor and gear that controls movement (Fig. 13, [0070]). Kischka teaches applying an electronic right-ascension brake to the telescope mount by short-circuiting one or more input coils of the stepper motor (motor, braking is implemented by virtue of … drive motor braking is implemented by virtue of the fact that, in a first step, the phase connections of a first field coil are short-circuited via associated switches, [0014], and also see the abstract). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao to include applying a brake to the telescope mount by short-circuiting one or more input coils of the stepper motor, as taught by Kischka for the predictable advantage of having a very short braking time with little technical complexity involved as taught by Kischka in [0007].
Regarding claim 19, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 17 (see above), a stepper motor for rotating, (The motor 210 may be a DC motor or a stepper motor, where the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control, [0030]). The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach wherein short-circuiting said one or more input coils of the stepper motor includes connecting together first and second terminals of at least one of the input coils through a resistor.
Mao and Kischka are related as motor and gear that controls movement (Fig. 13, [0070]). Kischka teaches short-circuiting said one or more input coils of the motor includes connecting together first and second terminals of at least one of the input coils through a resistor (field coils can be short-circuited directly in order to achieve a maximum braking current. It may be expedient to short-circuit a field coil via a braking resistor 50, as is shown in FIG. 9, [0071]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao to include short-circuiting one or more input coils of the motor includes connecting together first and second terminals of at least one of the input coils through a resistor, as taught by Kischka for the predictable advantage of having a very short braking time with a little technical complexity involved, as taught by Kischka in [0007].
Claims 12 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mao in view of Yeung et al. further in view of Matsuo et al as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Campton (US 2004/0051942).
Regarding claim 12, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 11 (see above), Mao teaches a motor that controls movement along an axis of the telescope drives the telescope, [abstract]. Yeung further teaches, wherein the harmonic gear is constructed and arranged to resist turning moments, such that the telescope does not include a declination-axis counterweight (Harmonic drives, on the other hand, features zero-backlash, [0020]). The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach the telescope wherein the is constructed and arranged to resist turning moments, such that the telescope does not include a declination-axis counterweight. Mao and campton are related as telescope mount. Campton teaches the telescope mount is operated without a declination-axle counterweight (adjustment allows the telescope tube to be balanced without using cumbersome springs or counterweights, [0011]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao to design the telescope wherein the is constructed and arranged to resist turning moments, such that the telescope does not include a declination-axis counterweight, as taught by Campton for the predictable advantage of adjustment of a telescope tube along its central longitudinal axis which allows balance to be achieved as different eyepieces or accessories with different weights are attached to the telescope tube, as taught by Campton in [0011].
Regarding claim 20, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 17 (see above), Mao teaches a motor that controls movement along an axis of the telescope drives the telescope, [abstract]. Yeung further teaches, wherein the telescope mount is operated without a declination-axle counterweight (Harmonic drives, on the other hand, features zero-backlash, [0020]). The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach the telescope mount is operated without a declination-axle counterweight.
Mao and Campton are related as telescope mount. Campton teaches the telescope mount is operated without a declination-axle counterweight (adjustment allows the telescope tube to be balanced without using cumbersome springs or counterweights, [0011]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao to design the telescope mount operated without a declination-axle counterweight, as taught by Campton for the predictable advantage of adjustment of a telescope tube along its central longitudinal axis which allows balance to be achieved as different eyepieces or accessories with different weights are attached to the telescope tube, as taught by Campton in [0011].
Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mao in view of Yeung et al. further in view of Matsuo et al as applied to claim 14, and further in view of Baun et al. (US 2006/0092508).
Regarding claim 15, the modified Mao teaches the telescope according to claim 14 (see above), right-ascension made using the optical encoder with desired right-ascension angles (the motor 210 works in coordination with an optical encoder for precise motor position sensing and control [0030]; mount 100 includes a declination (DEC) axis 110 and a right ascension (R.A.) axis 112 [0010]).
The modified Mao doesn’t explicitly teach correcting the periodic errors includes applying closed-loop feedback control to substantially match measurements of right-ascension made using the optical encoder with desired right-ascension angles.
Mao and Baun are related as telescope mount.
Baun teaches correcting the periodic errors includes applying closed-loop feedback control to substantially match measurements of right-ascension made using the optical encoder with desired right-ascension angles (closed-loop control systems used in connection with automated telescope control, one or more position feedback sensors may be placed anywhere between the motor shaft and the telescope focal plane. Once a position feedback sensor is calibrated such that its output can be converted to an apparent stellar position, the sensor will automatically correct, through this calibration, for any systematic errors from the motor shaft up to the position feedback sensor, [0069]; closed loop systems, the position feedback encoders provide a numerical value corresponding to the angular position of an axis. This numerical value is converted to a meaningful coordinate, such as RA, Dec, altitude or azimuth, by applying a calibration algorithm to the raw encoder data. These encoder zero offset corrections are incorporated into the calibration algorithm in order to provide numerical values representing the true position of the telescope. The system controller compares the apparent position of the desired object with the position of the telescope (determined from the position encoder readings) and generates appropriate movement commands to the motors in order to minimize the difference between the object and telescope positions. [0155]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to modify the modified mount of Mao by using a applying closed-loop feedback control to substantially match measurements of right-ascension made using the optical encoder with desired right-ascension angles, as taught by Baun for the predictable advantage of adding alignment methods which can improve the accuracy [abstract].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 7-10 and 18 are objected: Claims 3, 7 and 18 are objected as being dependent upon a rejected base claim but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art failed to show the pertinent prior art cannot be reasonably construed as adequately teaching of wherein the optical encoder has an angular error of less than 0.02 arc-seconds, wherein the declination unit further includes a declination optical encoder, and wherein a precision of the optical encoder is higher than a precision of the declination optical encoder (claim 3); wherein the harmonic pear provides pear reduction, and wherein the hybrid mount further comprises: drive circuitry coupled to first and second coils of the stepper motor for driving a shaft of the stepper motor forward and backwards; and a switch coupled across terminals of the first coil for selectively short-circuiting the first coil, causing the stepper motor combined with the pear reduction of the harmonic pear to act as a brake that resists right- ascension rotation in response to applied forces, (claim 7), and the wherein short-circuiting said one or more input coils of the stepper motor includes: short-circuiting a first input coil of the stepper motor for achieving a first resistance to applied forces; and short-circuiting both the first input coil and a second input coil of the stepper motor for achieving a second resistance to applied forces, the second resistance being greater than the first resistance (claim 18).
Claims 8-10 are objected as being dependent upon the objected claim 7,
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. (i) Shannahan et al. (US 20150192241), A positioning device; (ii) Cardozo, (US 20190331292), Adjustable mount for a mountable device; (iii) Matt (US 20160170289), Systems and methods for mounting photographic equipment.
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicants are reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RAHMAN ABDUR whose telephone number is (571)270-0438. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 am to 5:30.
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/R.A/Examiner, Art Unit 2872
/BALRAM T PARBADIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2872
